Hajime Gekitsuden
Chapter 7: Trials of a friendship~ Arc1: Start of a new journey
"Wait, Hajime!" Satoru caught up with him, concern etched on his face. "You didn't inform me about your plans. What's going on?"
"Did you follow me?" Hajime inquired, crossing his arms.
It wasn't even worth asking; Hajime already knew the answer.
"Yup, you were acting weirder than usual, so I knew you were plotting something, and I followed you," Satoru explained with a smirk. "But I can't believe you left me out of this..." he added, playfully shoving Hajime.
Hajime was used to his friend's antics, but still—how was he supposed to keep him out of trouble if he kept acting like this?
"You heard everything?" sighed Hajime, maintaining his serious look.
"Not entirely..." answered Satoru, scratching his head.
With a deep breath, Hajime recounted the entire meeting with Kodero. Satoru listened in silence.
"It's an incredible story, but can we really believe what the old man said?" Satoru questioned, doubtful. "How could he be aware of stuff like that? He isn't even a shinobi," he added.
"We agreed to meet again next week at the same spot!" announced Hajime. "You can come if you want..."
Parting ways, both boys went home.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow across the village, Hajime and Satoru found themselves once again at the secluded meeting spot. Kodero was already waiting, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and determination.
"Kodero-Jisan, I brought someone with me," Hajime announced. "This is Yuhi Satoru; he already knows most of this matter."
"Osu!" said Satoru with a friendly smile.
"Ji-san, can you tell us more about the Uchiha incident?" asked Hajime without bothering with small talk.
Kodero stayed silent for a moment, his wrinkled face betraying a mix of emotions. "The Uchiha clan, in their pursuit of power, delved into forbidden techniques. Uchiha Mayumi was a key figure, possessing an ability they believed could tip the balance in their favor," he explained. "But power comes at a cost, and the Uchiha elders were willing to pay it."
"There's more you need to know," Kodero continued, his gaze fixed on the distant Hokage Monument. "The Uchiha clan wasn't the only one tangled in forbidden techniques. There are whispers of other clans, other secrets..."
Satoru and Hajime exchanged glances, realizing that their quest was leading them into a labyrinth of conspiracies that seemed more and more dangerous.
"Excuse me, Kodero-Ojisan, but how come you are aware of all of this?" asked Satoru.
Once again, the old man took his time before responding. "Once I had a son... He worked as an Anbu for the Third Hokage. He felt like something was off about the Uchiha massacre and started digging deeper. This led to his own demise... They said that he died on a mission, but after reading the journal he was writing... I'm sure his death was planned by someone," he explained, a sad expression looming over his face.
"I'm... sorry about your son," stammered Hajime as Satoru nodded in silence.
"Thank you, my children... I would like to give you this," the old man announced, handing Hajime a small, dusty journal. "Here is everything my son discovered. I have this much information, but an old man like me can do nothing about it," he added.
"You two are young, but you carry the weight of knowledge that could shape the future of Konoha," Kodero said, his voice filled with urgency. "Be cautious, for the shadows have eyes and ears. Trust no one completely," the old man continued while preparing to leave.
As the night settled in, the trio dispersed, each lost in their thoughts. Hajime and Satoru's quest was becoming more complicated, and they had no idea how all of this would turn out. But neither of them was willing to back down.
THE END.